Games Localization

2. Optimizing Your
Localization Pipeline for a
Dynamic Universe
David Lakritz
President & CEO
Language Automation, Inc.

3. Overview
• Definitions
• Analyzing the LP
• Optimizing the LP
• Localization in the world of MMOGs
• Conclusions
• Q & A

4. Definitions

5. Localization
“The process of adapting a game for a
specific country”
• Conceptual
• Translation
• Text-based assets

6. Pipeline
“A set of data processing elements
connected in series, so that the output
of one element is the input of the next
one. ”
• H/W – S/W term
• Structured process
• Visual representation

7. Simplified Localization Pipeline
Organize
Assets
Translate Integrate Build/Test
Fix bugs

8. Optimizing the Pipeline

9. Why?
• Better quality
• Reduced schedule risk
• Lower cost
 Enhances gaming experience

10. How?
Analyze the pipeline to find bottlenecks
• Software engineering concepts
• Qualitative data
• “Weakest link in the chain”
Reduce / eliminate bottlenecks

11. If it costs $10 to make a program change
during development, it will probably cost $400
to do it after the system is in the field.
- R.S. Pressman (1992) Software Engineering: A
Practitioner's Approach

12. Once a piece of software makes it into the field,
the cost of fixing an error can be 100 times as
high as it would have been during the
development stage.
- Robert N. Charette (2005) Why Software Fails
[IEEE Spectrum]

13. It is about 40-100 times more expensive to
fix problems in the maintenance phase of a
program than in the design phase.
- B.W. Boehm (1981) Software Engineering
Economics

14. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Translation Integration Linguistic
Testing
Post-Ship
$
$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$
S/W Engineering  Localization
Relative Cost of FixingRelative Cost of Fixing
Translation ErrorsTranslation Errors

15. Qualitative Data
• Poor translations
 Retranslate
 cost up
 schedule slip
• Corrupted files during translation
 Delayed asset integration
 cost up
 schedule slip
• Poor communication
 Extensive rewriting
 cost up
 schedule slip

16. “Weakest Link in the Chain”
Organize
Assets
Translate Integrate Build/Test
Fix bugs
 Lack of Control

17. Bottlenecks
1. Translation Step
2. Interfaces to Translation Team

18. 1. Translation Step

19. 2. Interfaces to Translation
Team

20. Interfaces to Translation Team
• L10n vendor as part of process
• Not just afterthought
• Streamlined communication
• Start early

21. Key Questions for Developers
• How to choose a l10n vendor?
• What kinds of information to
communicate?
• What should the interfaces look like?

22. Selecting a Vendor
• Process, Process, Process
• Tools
• Experience

23. Selecting a Vendor (Process)
• Process vs. Event
• Well-developed workflow
• Management control & reporting
• Compatibility

24. Selecting a Vendor (Tools)
• File handling
• QA tools
• Length checkers
• Terminology/glossary management

25. What to Communicate?
> Concept diagrams
> Gameplay flowcharts
> Playable copy of the game, if possible
> As much context as possible
> Character descriptions
> Glossary or dictionary of game items and
game elements

26. What to Communicate?
• Timely updates
• Status
• Schedule changes
 Think of vendor as part of the
production team

27. Interfaces
• Set clear expectations
• Single point of contact
• Avoid adding unnecessary layers
• Channel not filter

28. MMOGs and the
Localization Pipeline

29. How are MMOGs different?
• Support for multiple concurrent
languages
• Server-based, so unique opportunity to
update the game while it’s being played
 Dynamic Content
• User-generated content

30. Implications for the LP
• Need a process to handle content that
rapidly changes
• Need to store the content efficiently
• Server can push new localized text out
to the clients (like patching)
• Need a more streamlined workflow and
interfaces

31. Example MMOG Localization
Architecture

32. Handling dynamic content (1)
• Need highly optimized pipeline
• Automated tools a must
• Need good, streamlined interfaces for
good communication with vendor
• Need to make the vendor part of your
team

33. Handling dynamic content (2)
• Move l10n closer to content authoring
• Need Content Management System to
orchestrate the workflow
• Make l10n part of the
development/creative process and not
just an afterthought

34. Conclusions
• Translation/localization is a process not an
activity
• Tools can help automate/streamline the
process
• Good communication on "both sides of the
fence" is crucial
• Choose your localization vendor carefully
• As content becomes more dynamic, think
Content Management and integrate the
vendor closer to your production flow

35. Questions?
Copy of presentation:
http://www.lai.com/games.html
Contact:
dave@lai.com